Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Sunday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 5th April 2026
Last updated
Sat 4th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Notably cold for Easter Sunday, sub-zero across Scottish mountains and high tops in England & Wales, severe chill factor where exposed to gale-force westerly winds over hills. Heavy, squally showers with hail, also snow falling at times to lower elevations; chance of isolated thunder.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Mountain gales, bitterly cold; heavy showery hail and snow.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Stormy conditions overnight lessen up to dawn, may be still 60-70mph at first light; then westerly 40 to 55mph much of day, squally gusts; briefly less mid-late morning, risk slightly increasing again toward 60mph by evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Frequent buffeting, walking challenging on higher exposed terrain, sudden powerful gusts making balance difficult in places. Beware possible storm damage from overnight around forests. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow then showery hail; risk lightning
Fresh lying snow to lower hill slopes particularly northern areas. Showery, clusters of heavy bursts with hail and snow, frequent near/west of the A9, some rain on lowest slopes. Isolated thunder & lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying on high tops
Cloud banks frequently moving across upper slopes, mostly above 900-1000m, briefly lower in precipitation. At times clearing higher up, most often in east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of bright sunshine and very good visibility, but suddenly appalling in cloud and snow or hail, brief whiteout possible.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 to -4C, rising slightly afternoon. (Around -6C on Ben Macdui summit). Feeling like -15C in the wind, nearer -20C on higher Cairngorms at times.
Freezing Level
400 to 600m in morning, rising to 700-800m afternoon, but lowering briefly again around showers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 6th April 2026
Last updated
Sat 4th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwest turning southerly, 20 to 35mph, tending to strengthen during day, stronger gusts may develop higher Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Increasingly affecting ease of walking on higher exposed terrain; notably gusty downslope around northern corries.
How Wet?
Rain unlikely
Very likely dry. Low chance of odd spots from thickening high cloud, mostly southwest areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little if any
Patchy cloud briefly drifting over some slopes, mostly southern areas, but most mountains largely free of low cloud.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine and a veil of high cloud, which may cover the sky more with time in west. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C from dawn, rising to +2C or locally +4C toward north afternoon. Feeling like -5 to -10C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Frost in glens in morning, much mountain terrain frozen all day, but air temperature rising above freezing to tops by late in day.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 7th April 2026
Last updated
Sat 4th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southeasterly 25 to 40mph, but in places nearer 50mph, very gusty higher Cairngorms and northern corries.
Effect of the wind on you?
Variable, in places fairly small, but sudden buffeting gusts will make walking and balance more challenging.
How Wet?
Rain not expected until late
Toward evening, thickening high cloud may give odd spots, locally a brief burst of rain possible. More likely after dark, risk of rain becoming more widespread.
Cloud on the hills?
Hills clear
Patchy mist some glens at first. The mountains very likely clear all day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Above 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine and thin high cloud, tending to gradually thicken during the day, later may cover the sky. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 to 10C. Directly in the stronger wind, feeling below freezing despite warm air.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Possible slight frost some sheltered glens at dawn.
Planning Outlook
A cold frosty start to Monday, but milder southerly air arrives - dry and many hills clear with hazy sun, but gusty wind, risk of local gales west coastal mountains of Scotland. Quite warm by Tuesday, but strong to gale force southerly winds more widely; dry for many, rain encroaching into western Scotland, thawing of recent snow. Staying warm on Wednesday for many, but likely becoming cooler later in the week. Scotland likely remains changeable, often windy later in the week, rain at times, varying temperatures, at times below freezing on higher Munros. England and Wales sees occasional rain or showers late week, but some drier days and lighter winds.